Nigeria Super Eagles B coach Eric Chelle has defended his team selection for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Zanzibar following their heavy 4-0 loss to Sudan.
Chelle emphasized that his squad comprised the best talents from the Nigeria Premier Football League and was chosen purely on merit.
“While the result was disappointing, the squad truly represented the best players available from the league,” Chelle stated firmly.
The Franco-Malian coach also explained that the final lineup differed significantly from his original plan, as several key players either left the camp or failed to report, choosing to pursue opportunities abroad instead.
“About five players either left or didn’t show up because they moved overseas. So, although the squad wasn’t exactly what we initially envisioned, it remained the strongest available in the league,” Chelle said.
Following the loss, Nigeria has been knocked out of the 8th edition of CHAN. Sudan took a 2-0 lead by halftime and extended their advantage with two more goals in the second half, placing Nigeria at the bottom of Group D.
Sudan capitalized on Nigeria’s defensive lapses, with Yagoub Omer netting twice in the second half to complete the comprehensive victory.
Chelle acknowledged that the Eagles started the match well and even scored, but critical errors eventually cost them.
“We started off focused and found the net, but mistakes crept in, and we lost control in the second half. To me, conceding four goals means four mistakes,” he admitted.
He detailed the mistakes that led to their downfall “Our loss to Senegal resulted from a mistake on the first goal, and in this game, the first two Sudanese goals were due to errors. The last two goals came from poor positioning.”
Recognizing the level of competition, Chelle urged his team to learn from the experience and sharpen their concentration moving forward.
“Playing at this level is demanding. We need to be more focused going ahead,” he concluded.
With their elimination confirmed, Nigeria’s final group match against Congo next week will be a formality.
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